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Obesity Is Caused by Low Minimum Wage (Pass the turkey and gravy, please!)
National Review ^ | 11-25-09 | Veronique de Rugy

Posted on 11/25/2009 1:00:56 PM PST by smoothsailing

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Obesity Is Caused by Low Minimum Wage


by Veronique de Rugy

Before you embark on this fun weekend of overeating (I know I am), you might be happy to know that whatever weight you put on won't be your fault. It is the fault of our low real minimum wage. This recent study by David Meltzer at the University of Chicago and Zhuo Chen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that low inflation-adjusted minimum wages are partly to blame for increased obesity.

Here is why: People are fatter. That's because they eat too much. And that's because the food is getting cheaper everyday, especially "fast food." But that's because wages in real term have "declined by as much as half over 1968-2007 and because minimum wage labor is a major contributor to the cost of food away from home," the authors explain.

Getting it? So in order for America to slim down, we need to increase the minimum wage to make the cost of labor and the price of fast food higher. While we are at it we need to increase the tax on soda and sugary drinks. And we need to impose a surtax on turkey and all of these yummy Thanksgiving goodies that you will be overconsuming this weekend.

Thankfully, the jury is not convinced of the relationship between obesity and low wages. Also, the science and the economics have come out against many of the assertions that taxing sugary drinks would reduce obesity.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Via Economix.com


TOPICS: Extended News; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: veroniquederugy
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1 posted on 11/25/2009 1:00:56 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Knew a guy that worked in welfare and he said the poor often bought fatty high carb foods because they feared starvation and those foods made them feel full.


2 posted on 11/25/2009 1:04:50 PM PST by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: smoothsailing

Ever notice how our country is one of the few in the world where the poor are fat?

David Meltzer is a fool. While it is true that in the US poorer people tend to be more overweight, there is no causation between wages and weight. In fact, it is much more likely that poorer people are overweight because they are LAZY and would rather eat and watch Oprah than work.


3 posted on 11/25/2009 1:05:39 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (The Second Amendment. Don't MAKE me use it.)
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To: smoothsailing
There has to be some kind of bell curve involved here.

Slash the minimum wage by 50 percent.

Let's see what that does.

4 posted on 11/25/2009 1:06:31 PM PST by Berlin_Freeper (Barney Frank is the most disgusting person I can think of. I been thinking about it for months now.)
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To: smoothsailing

Only in America: The fattest people are the poorest people.


5 posted on 11/25/2009 1:08:23 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (Ack, is that the site with "Responsibility2nd"? Some weirdo. ...)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

I lived in a mobile home park for awhile when I was younger. The ratio of fat to thin people was probably 70/30, and these folks weren’t exactly upper class.

Apparently, these so-called ‘poor’ people had enough money to build up plenty of fat rolls.


6 posted on 11/25/2009 1:11:10 PM PST by reagan_fanatic (Socialism is hip until somebody loses a paycheck)
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To: smoothsailing
Getting it? So in order for America to slim down, we need to increase the minimum wage to make the cost of labor and the price of fast food higher.

While we are at it we need to increase the tax on soda and sugary drinks. And we need to impose a surtax on turkey and all of these yummy Thanksgiving goodies that you will be overconsuming this weekend.

OK this has to be from The Onion right? Even liberals can't be this stupid.

7 posted on 11/25/2009 1:11:44 PM PST by YankeeReb
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To: smoothsailing
Go to any grocery store or supermarket.

Look at what "poor people" have in their shopping carts.

- - junk food

- - convenience food

- - and, ultra-high-carbohydrate dense "foods" and that's before the alcohol and tobacco aisle.

.

8 posted on 11/25/2009 1:13:19 PM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: randog

That guy bought into a liberal lie. No, the poor buy fatty high carb food because that is what they like (tradition, family, etc.). Most are poorly educated about “healthy” food and nutrition and don’t know any better.


9 posted on 11/25/2009 1:13:53 PM PST by Clock King (There's no way to fix D.C.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

“Ever notice how our country is one of the few in the world where the poor are fat?”

And drive escalades, have cell phones, and plasma tv’s.


10 posted on 11/25/2009 1:13:55 PM PST by Bruinator (People are.............Stupid)
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To: randog

I like washing down my chicharones and cheetos with some ice cold grape soda with my a$$ parked in front of my 47” 1080P LCD TV


11 posted on 11/25/2009 1:14:05 PM PST by dennisw (Obama -- our very own loopy, leftist god-thing.)
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To: smoothsailing

Heard yesterday that trial lawyers consider these fast food “victims” next best thing after cigarette smokers. No personal responsibility, no free will.


12 posted on 11/25/2009 1:15:30 PM PST by samsmom
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To: Blood of Tyrants

I think there are a few angles here.

1. Unhealthy food is cheap and tastes good.
2. People who aren’t getting enjoyment out of life elsewhere often make food the highlight of their day.
3. The same lack of discipline that can keep you poor can also keep you fat.
4. Poor people may have less time on their hands and can’t afford gym memberships, equipment, etc.
5. Many educated people fail to grasp that you must burn more calories than you consume to lose weight and stay in shape, so it stands to reason that less educated people would have a problem with it as well.


13 posted on 11/25/2009 1:16:07 PM PST by Callahan
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To: smoothsailing

There are virtually no fast foods or prepared convenience foods that are cheaper by weight, volume or caloric value than scratch-made foods. It’s not that these poor fat people cannot afford better quality foods; it is that they are too lazy to prepare them.


14 posted on 11/25/2009 1:17:15 PM PST by Sloth (Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8)
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To: randog

I was a single mom (3 kids, ex-hubby followed his penis, not paying child support, thanks to his girl cashing my check for her bar bill), going to college full-time for engineering. My last semester (January), was hard. I was working 30-35 hours per week the entire time, trying to do thesis and seeing the end, I’d get my degree! I just physically couldn’t keep up the pace the last 8 months. I was able to manage 3 kids, household bills, working, and all that stuff. The last semester was a killer. I opted to quit my job for the last 1/2 year or so and got on food stamps. Boy, was that humiliating. But, isn’t that what it’s for? I found a full time engineering job in July, and never looked back. This is what welfare is for, not a lifelong career, but a helping hand in times of need.


15 posted on 11/25/2009 1:18:35 PM PST by Indy Pendance (Conservatives: we are their worst nightmare)
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To: smoothsailing

I have a “matronly” figure and this article is crap.


16 posted on 11/25/2009 1:18:35 PM PST by netmilsmom (I am Ilk)
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To: YankeeReb
Even liberals can't be this stupid.

Exactly, everybody knows that people are only fat because of global warming, it has nothing to do with the minimum wage.

17 posted on 11/25/2009 1:20:14 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
I'm so confused, maybe moreso than the two that did this study.

Happy Thanksgiving to All

18 posted on 11/25/2009 1:23:37 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

That’s a nifty link!

Happy Thanksgiving, Jaz!


19 posted on 11/25/2009 1:27:30 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

I guess this explain the rampant obesity problem in Africa where they earn $1 a month... /s


20 posted on 11/25/2009 1:30:51 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied, the economy died)
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